An innovative approach pays dividends

Zhao Heqi, 28, leader of the team from Nanchang University, whose project aims to create a healthier lighting environment for people, says shortsightedness is a major problem among Chinese students.

Traditional phosphor-based LED lighting comes with severe blue lights, which can cause shortsightedness and trigger insomnia, and his team's phosphor-free lighting products can help solve those problems, Zhao says.

He started the project in 2019, founded the startup last year after graduating with a master's degree from the university, and the company's sales revenue has reached 130 million yuan so far, says Zhao, now a doctoral student. His ambition is for the company to reach 1 billion yuan of sales revenue and be listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange's Science and Technology Innovation Board by 2025.

Zhao Jiawei, a senior student in mechanical engineering and automation at Beihang University, was also a top prize winner. His team's project centered around maglev capsule robots, less than 2 centimeters in diameter, that can be used in gastrointestinal monitoring.

He started the project with his classmate Wang Xinyang, under the guidance of their teachers, when they were freshmen. They have completed the development of the robot and the product is set to go into production next year.

Although it is difficult to balance schoolwork and entrepreneurship, Zhao Jiawei says it is worthwhile when the project pertains to something they are passionate about. "Participating in the competition helped us reflect on the project and it's also a good opportunity for promotion and advertisement," he says.

The Chinese government has attached great importance to the encouragement of college students in pursuing innovative entrepreneurial careers. A recent guideline issued by the General Office of the State Council, China's Cabinet, required colleges to hire qualified external professionals to serve as mentors and place greater emphasis on teaching entrepreneurship qualities and innovative thinking.

It also asked local governments to create a more favorable environment for startups and innovative projects, stressing the importance of improving financial support by exploring new funding channels and introducing helpful financial policies.

One of the judges, Fang Hairong, also executive deputy director of Beijing Jiaotong University's undergraduate school, says she was impressed with the students' performance and overall ability. She noticed that there have been many such competitions to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship among students, allowing them to hone their skills while starting their businesses.

Her university, for example, has required all undergraduate students to attend innovation and entrepreneurship courses and it also offers free space and subsidies for their projects.

Xu Luting, director of the employment guidance service center at the China Academy of Art, led the contestants of his university, including Wu Jianbin, and two teams were among the top prize winners.

Art students are creative and innovative, Xu says, as the innovation and entrepreneurship awareness among his students is strong. Around 40 percent of the university's graduates are self-employed. To turn their creativity into business opportunities, a sound environment encouraging entrepreneurship is required, he adds.

The university opened an entrepreneurship school in 2015. And it also offers relevant courses to all students, as well as free access to its innovation and entrepreneurship bases, according to Xu.

"With proper guidance and encouragement from professionals and teachers, even a small course project can be turned into a business," he says.